DOC NYC Fest: 'Venus and Serena'

Venus and Serena Williams have far more personality than most female tennis players on the pro tour. When they win, they're extemely demonstrative. Serena has famously yelled at line judges, and they showcase their latest fashions on the court. Venus & Serena, a selection at this year's DOCNYC Fest, which will run from Nov. 8-15, shows the sisters off the court. Even though the sisters and their family
give directors Maiken Baird and Michelle Major access, they're still private people. "When the food gets here, make like a banana and split," a sister tells the person behind the camera after Serena's 2011 loss at Wimbledon. The person doesn't understand, so she slowly repeats the phrase, ending with a direct statement: "Leave." Most of the time when the cameras are present, so is the sister's entourage. A hitting partner, various people who appear to be assistants-slash-masseuses, various family members. And, of course, wherever there is one sister, the other is always nearby. It's humanizing to hear the sisters, who live together, joke that the other is their "wife" and debate how they want to cook their fish.

With careers now lasting over a decade, it's hard to know where to start or end with the sisters' stories. The doc avoids recapping too much of their early careers, but it does talk about key events. Like the time Serena was booed at the Indian Wells tournament, where racial epithets were hurled at her and her family, and where she has never returned. Or the upbringing of their father, Richard Williams, who grew up with casual, cruel racism and violence in Shreveport, Louisiana. Cameras followed the sisters during 2011, and that time period is what we mostly see. At the beginning of the year, Serena is recovering from a pulmonary embolism brought on by a blood clot she acquired from having her leg in a cast: an injury on top of injury on top of injury. Venus has a diagnosis that's not life-threatening, but could be career-ending. She has the autoimmune disorder Sjogren's Syndrome, which causes terrible fatigue.

Of all the intimate moments with the sisters, two are the most telling. While in the gym with her trainer, Venus diligently struggles through movements, mentioning, "I can't wait to get stronger." The comment was in marked contrast to most reality show scenes in the gym, which center on complaining, whining, or a preoccupation with weight loss. That kind of dedication is why Venus is so inspiring. The other comes from interview footage with Venus when she's only around eleven. An interviewer asks her if she will be a champion, and she replies in the affirmative. He pauses, and asks a couple of follow-up statements intended to make Venus qualify. "Really? Do you have any doubts?" At this point, her father steps in, the camera pulls back to reveal the lights and setting, and he reams the interviewer for trying to place questions into the mind of his budding champion. Venus smiles with the slightly puffed-up cheeks that occur when you are trying to hold in a laugh. She's clearly pleased to have her dad step in. Yes, he may be known as eccentric and controlling, but it's also clear that his protectiveness and complete faith in her is what made Venus and her sister Serena champions.